Canon-Mac wins Reno title; Wiercioch champ

Cody Wiercioch of Canon-McMillan placed first at 170 pounds at the Reno Tournament of Champions. (Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac)

Advertisement

RENO, Nev. – Canon-McMillan High School’s wrestling team stretched its muscles on a national scale this weekend, winning the team title in the Reno Tournament of Champions, and crowning an individual champion in Cody Wiercioch at 170 pounds.

The Big Macs had 225.5 points, four better than defending champion Poway (Calif.). Maple Mountain High School in Utah was third at 173.5, Pomona, Calif., finished fourth at 158.5 and Green Valley High School in Reno was fifth with 155. The tournament had 101 teams competing on 12 mats and is one of the major tournaments for college recruiters to scout talent.

“Our goal coming in was to win it,” said C-M head coach Chris Mary. “It was a total team effort. Each of our wrestlers scored points. They all won matches. It was an experience they will never forget.”

Wiercioch, a two-time PIAA champion, won a 3-1 overtime decision against Steve Cervantes of Poway in the 170 finals. Regulation ended in a 1-1 tie and Wiercioch registered a takedown that won the bout and pushed the Big Macs into the team lead.

Dalton Macri was second at 120, Connor Schram was second at 132, Brendon Price was third at 106, Alex Campbell took third at 220 and Angelo Broglia was third at heavyweight.

Macri dropped a 2-1 decision to Isaiah Locsin of Live Oak in California and Schram was pinned in 3:14 by Jed Mellon of Payson High School in Arizona.

“Schram was winning 3-1 and they were on their feet with 30 seconds left,” Mary said. “Then, he got hipped to his back.”

Price took third place with an 8-2 decision by Dustin Steffino of Upper Perkiomen. Campbell earned third place with an 11-9 win over Vic Raygoza of Orland High School in California. Broglia edged Carlos Taylor Broken Arrow High School in Oklahoma.

“He did a great job,” Mary said of Broglia. “He’s been behind (Cody) Klempay the past two years. He’s been hungry. It was very emotional for him to take third.”